Display carton for fruits and vegetables



y 5, 1953 c. ADAMS, SR 2,637,481

DISPLAY CARTON FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed July 5, 1949 E 33 g 5 INVEN TOR.

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BYW/EMZZL ITTOENEYS Patented May 5, 1953 DISPLAY CARTON FOR. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Carl Adams, 81;, Birmingham, Ala. Application July 5, 1949, Serial No. 102,965

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-30) My present invention relates to a display carton for fruits and vegetables, and while not limited thereto relates particularly to a display carton for packaging tomatoes and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a display carton which shall afiord a. substantially all around view of the tomatoes or the like therein, and which shall nevertheless be effective to support the tomatoes so that they will not be damaged in handling of the package.

More specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a display carton which comprises a relatively shallow, elongated cardboard tray having end, side and bottom walls, there being an opening in the'bottom wall of the tray formed by slitting the bottom the desired len th of the opening and thence folding the same cutwardly to form flaps, whereby the free ends of such flaps support the tomatoes with their bottomsurfaces raised above the bottom of the box,

thereby preventing the same from becoming damaged and permitting the lower surfaces to be inspected.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carton of the character designated in which there is provided an outer wrapping of transparent paper, completely inclosing the carton and its contents, thus adding strength to the box and providing a sealed container for the fruits or vegetables therein.

Another object is to provide a carton of the character designated in which the flaps are of such length that the free edges thereof rest against the sides of the carton, thus to support the tomato with its rounded lower surface above the level of the bottom of the carton.

A further object is to provide a display carton embodying a tray with an opening in its bottom together with an outer wrapping for the carton which has its edges lapped adjacent said bottom opening, a portion of the length of the lapped edges being left unsealed, permitting air to enter and leave the carton through the opening, thereby ventilating the stem end of the fruits or vegetables therein, thus to reduce the tendency toward rotting of the fruit, particularly at the stem end.

A display carton illustrating the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. l is a plan view with the outer wrapping removed;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken general 111 along line II-:II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing a slightly modified form of my invention:

Fig i is a bottom View of the package shown in Fig. 3, partly broken away, with the outer transparent wrapper in place; and,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line V--V of Fig. i.

' Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, I show a display carton embodying an elongated, relatively shallow tray indicated generally by the numeral 10. The tray may conveniently be formed of a blank of cardboard cut and folded to shape in the manner well understood in the art. As shown, the tray comprises side walls l I, end walls l2, and a bottom I3. The end walls I2 may be provided with inwardly foldable flaps l4 disposed to fold inwardly over the tomatoes at the ends of the carton.

In the bottom 13 of the box I0 I provide a pair of elongated openings l6 and 11. These openings preferably are formed by slitting the bottom along the dotted line It, for the desired length of the openings l6 and i1. Also, the bottom is slitted transversely at each end of the line Hi. The transverse slits extend substantially equal distances on each side of the line it thus forming a transverse slit across the end of the line it which is equal approximately one half the width of the bottom. Preferably the transverse slits are curved as viewed in plan to give added strength to the box. The material [9 left in the bottom [3 joins the side Walls H and [2 at their lower edges, adding strength to the box.

The material lying within the openings and forming the original bottom of the box is folded outwardly to form flaps 2! and 22. As best shown in Fig. 2, the flaps 2| and 22 are preferably of such length that the outer or free ends thereof rest against the side walls ll and 12 when folded outwardly. As shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, a tomato 23 or the like in the carton is supported on the flaps 2i and 22. In this position its lower surface is held above the bottom of the carton, whereby the rounded bottom of the tomato does not project outwardly of the openings it or IT, eliminating the danger of bruising the bottom. The carton is completed by the addition of an outer wrapping 24 0f cellophane, glassine paper or the like. Preferably, the outer wrapping ma terial is' of the type which is pervious to air, whereby there is at least limited air circulation into and out of the packaga'which aids, in the manner known, to maintain the fruits or vegetables fresln Referring. now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, I show a somewhat modified form of my invention in which the bottom opening 26 is continuous from substantially one end of the box to the other. The flaps Zlc and 22a are identical with the flaps 2| and 22 except that they are longer, and

they rest against the side walls H and I2 of the carton as already explained. The portions 21 and 28 of the bottom [3 of the carton serve the identical function as the portion l9, namely, to strengthen the box transversely.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I show a still modified form of my invention. In this instance the bottom l3 of the tray is slitted for substantially its length to provide an elongated opening 29. The sides are folded back to provide flaps 3| and 32 which lie substantially flat against the bottom. The round lower portion of the tomato 23 therein rests on the flaps and is supported above the opening. As is usual the stem end 23a is preferably placed down thus to display the more attractive part of the tomato at the top of the carton.

The outer covering 24 of cellophane or the like is lapped as at 33 on the bottom of the package with the lapped ends overlying the opening. The lapped edges are sealed together at intervals as indicated at 34. Intermediate the sealed portions air is free to enter and leave the carton by passing between the lapped edges of the outer wrapping and into or out of the opening 29. The package thus breathes, serving to maintain the fruit or vegetables therein in fresh condition. This feature, in combination with the outer wrapping of air pervious material, provides a package which is considerably improved with respect to maintaining the contents fresh. Along the ends of the carton the lapped edge of the outer wrapping may be continuously sealed as has heretofore been customary.

From the foregoing, the method of constructing and using my improved display carton will be readily understood. It will be apparent that with the flaps 2| and 22, 21a and 22a, or 3| and 32, a tomato or the like is held with its lower rounded surface above the level of the bottom so that when the boxes are stacked on top of one another there is no danger of bruising the lower part of the tomato. However, the tomatoes are exposed to view whereby a purchaser may readily examine both the stem and outer ends, thus assuring himself that the tomatoes he is purchasing are in good condition. This is particularly useful in view of the fact that the tomatoes usually commence to rot first at the stem end, and because they are usually packed in cartons or boxes with the stem end down. Likewise, I have found that by admitting air into and out of the package through the openings in the bottom, ventilating the stem end of the tomato, the tendency toward rotting at the stem end is naturally reduced. In actual practice I have found that a carton constructed in accordance with my invention is satisfactory in every way, and that the same may be cheaply and economically produced.

While as stated I prefer to use a material 24 which is somewhat pervious to air, it will be apparent that various other kinds of transparent material may be used for the outer wrapping, since a considerable circulation of air can be had with the partially sealed overlapping edges of the outer wrapping shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Likewise, it will be apparent that individual openings may be cut in the bottom of the box and that the portions forming the intermediate part of such openings may be folded backwardly, those adjacent the side walls being adapted to rest there against to support the tomato in the manner disclosed herein.

While the openings in the bottom of the cartons shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may vary in width I prefer to make them approximately one-half as wide as the bottom. Also I prefer to make the flaps of such length that the angle included between them and the bottom is about 45 degrees.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a display carton for fruits, vegetables and like objects, a relatively shallow rectangular open top box formed of a single sheet of material and embodying a bottom panel and end and side walls, there being an opening in said bottom panel of a size to expose to view a substantial portion of the lower surface of the objects in said box, and upwardly and outwardly extending flaps formed integrally with the bottom panel and joined to the edges of the material forming said opening with their free ends resting against th side walls of said box.

2. In a display carton for fruits, vegetables and like objects, an elongated, open top box formed of a single sheet of material and embodying side and end walls and a bottom panel, and a pair of elongated flaps defined by a single elongated longitudinal slit disposed at the center ofthe bottom panel and a pair of slits connected at each end of the longitudinal slit and extending transversely of the bottom panel partially across the width thereof, said flaps each being of a width for the free end thereof to bear against the adjacent side of the box when said flaps are folded upwardly and outwardly, thus providing an elongated opening between said flaps which exposes to view a substantial portion of the lower part of the objects in said box.

3. In a display carton for rounded fruits, vegetables and like objects, an elongated open top box formed of a single sheet of material and embodying side and end walls and a bottom panel, and a pair of elongated flaps defined by a single elongated longitudinal slit disposed at the center of the bottom panel and a pair of slits connected at each end of the longitudinal slit and extending transversely of the bottom panel partially across the width thereof, the free ends of said flaps being spaced above said bottom panel and said flaps each being of a width for the free end thereof to lie inwardly of the adjacent side wall when said flaps are folded upwardly and out wardly, thus providing means for supporting the articles on said flaps above the bottom "panel and providing an elongated opening between said flaps which exposes to view a substantial'po'rtion of the lower part of the objects in said box.

CARL ADAMS, SR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 549,613 Richardson Nov. 12, 1895 1,916,994 Siegrist July 4; 1933 1,949,161 Haug Feb. 12 1934 2,058,648 Wellman Oct. 27; 1936 2,301,042 Hanson Nov.'3,"1942 2,361,344 Yates Oct. 24,' 1944 2,368,797 Bailar Feb. 6, 1945 2,470,456 Bailar et al May 17, 1949 2,474,543 McLellan June 28, 1949 

